Managing and operating a catering company based on eco friendly norms and with an environmentally conscious mandate has become the moral responsibility of many catering entrepreneurs today. There are several reasons why you should consider “going green” in your catering operation especially if you are committed to your social responsibility, increasing your market share and generating multiple income streams by providing catering services to several events simultaneously. However, before you can embrace the latest environmental standards of operation, you need to identify the various functional subsets of your catering operation—areas in which you foresee the possibility of improvement from an ecological standpoint. Here are two environmental assessments you should conduct prior to articulating your eco friendly Green Action Plan. If you have a functional subset that is unique and specific to your catering niche, incorporate it as well because you will be perceived by your prospects, existing customers and the media as a responsible operation. Conducting an environmental assessment is a fancy way of saying that you should give your catering company a thorough look-over to see how you can become an environmentally friendly operation. This incidentally, is very good for business in these days of carbon credits, ecological footprints and innumerable discussions about GHG and other related subjects.

Energy Assessment

According to a recent survey conducted by a utility research group, the food services industry, of which the catering industry is a part, spends approximately $10 billion each year for energy consumption. Most unfortunately, 80% of the energy, regardless of the source—electricity, gas and others, is wasted due to energy inefficient appliances and human activated waste. A periodic assessment of your use of energy resources will keep you updated on the amount of energy you spend during a specific period of time. Let a representative from your neighborhood utilities company, of which you are a customer, come to your assistance to conduct an energy audit. Most utility companies provide this as a free service where as others may charge a small fee. A highly effective way to conserve energy resources without compromising on quality and service delivery is by investing only in commercial kitchen appliances that carry the Energy Star logo. This is a reliable, federally mandated program that is sure to reduce your utility bills. Visit the Energy Star Resource Page at energystar.gov for more information.

Water Assessment

Conducting periodic and timely water assessments of your catering operation is as vital as conducting energy assessments. A dripping faucet will always come as an additional burden on your budget in the form of increased water bills. The best way to perform this function is by asking your plumbing company to go on a calendar-based retainer and visit your catering company’s cooking premises to check for leaks and other related problems. If you are a small operation and prepare your food only on customer sites, there is not much you can do about conserving water resources except to ask your employees to use water judiciously. However, you are bound to expand into your very own commercial kitchen in due course where you can implement the suggestions we have offered in this regard. You can also consider calling your local water treatment plant and request a quick and thorough water consumption audit. Very often, the problems that cause water wastage are to be found outside your building.

The most efficient method of saving the environment from potential disaster is to educate yourself and your employees about the various environment friendly and energy efficient alternatives available today. Teach your employees the habits, which will help your catering business to go green, and your catering company is sure to soar to new heights of success.




By: Tim Ford